Feeding device for liquid materials

ABSTRACT

A feeding device for liquid raw materials includes a storage tank and a hydraulic cylinder. The storage tank includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a receiving space, a front cap and a rear cap. The inner tube is mounted coaxially in the outer tube. The receiving space is defined between the inner and outer tubes. The front cap is mounted on the inner and outer tubes and has a feeding inlet communicating with the inner tube and a front outlet communicating with the receiving space. The rear cap is mounted on the inner and outer tubes and has a rear inlet communicating with the receiving space. The hydraulic cylinder has a piston rod and a piston connected to the piston rod and mounted movably in the inner tube. Thus, the feeding device is simplified and quiet and can be used to transport materials of different viscosities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a feeding device, and more particularlyto a feeding device for liquid materials.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional feeding device may comprise a pump including a motor anda gear set or a diaphragm pump to feed liquid materials. However, theconventional mechanical or pneumatic pump may produce a great deal ofnoises and vibrations during operating. Thus, the conventional feedingdevice may cause unfavorable effects on field workers. Additionally, themechanical pump includes many components like a rotor or bearings andhas a complicated structure and a high manufacturing cost. Furthermore,the conventional mechanical and pneumatic pumps cannot feed differentliquid materials in different viscosities and is limited in use.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a feedingdevice for liquid materials to mitigate or obviate the aforementionedproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a feedingdevice for liquid materials that is driven by a hydraulic power and hasa simplified structure and cheap manufacturing cost.

A feeding device for liquid raw materials in accordance with the presentinvention comprises a storage tank and a hydraulic cylinder. The storagetank includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a receiving space, a frontcap and a rear cap. The inner tube is mounted coaxially in the outertube. The receiving space is defined between the inner and outer tubes.The front cap is mounted on the inner and outer tubes and has a feedinginlet communicating with the inner tube and a front outlet communicatingwith the receiving space. The rear cap is mounted on the inner and outertubes and has a rear inlet communicating with the receiving space. Thehydraulic cylinder has a piston rod and a piston connected to the pistonrod and mounted movably in the inner tube. Thus, the feeding device issimple and quiet and can be used to transport materials of differentviscosity.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view in partial section of a first embodiment of afeeding device for liquid materials in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional rear view of the front cap of the firstembodiment of the feeding device for liquid materials along line 2-2 inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional rear view of the rear cap of the firstembodiment of the feeding device for liquid materials along line 3-3 inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view in partial section of the firstembodiment of the feeding device for liquid materials in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view in partial section of a second embodiment of thefeeding device for liquid materials in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is an operational side view in partial section of the secondembodiment of the feeding device for liquid materials in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of the feedingdevice for liquid materials in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a feeding device for liquidmaterials in accordance with the present invention comprises a storagetank (10) and a hydraulic cylinder (20).

The storage tank (10) comprises an outer tube (11), an inner tube (12),a receiving space, a front cap (13) and a rear cap (16). The outer tube(11) is thermal conductive and has a front end and a rear end. The innertube (12) is thermal conductive, is mounted coaxially in and spaced fromthe outer tube (11) and has a front end and a rear end. The receivingspace is defined between the inner and outer tubes (11, 12).

The front cap (13) is mounted on the front ends of the inner and outertubes (11, 12) and has a feeding inlet (14) and a front outlet (15). Thefeeding inlet (14) is defined in the front cap (13), communicates withthe inner tube (12) and may be connected to a divider connected to aliquid material supply and a liquid material output through pipelines.The front outlet (15) is defined in the front cap (13), communicateswith the receiving space and may be connected to a recycle device.

The rear cap (16) is mounted on the rear ends of the inner and outertubes (11, 12) and has a rear inlet (17) and a gas opening (18). Therear inlet (17) is defined in the rear cap (16), communicates with thereceiving space between the inner and outer tubes (11, 12) and may beconnected to a supply of hot and cold water through a pipeline. The gasopening (18) is defined through the rear cap (16) and communicates withthe inner tube (12).

The hydraulic cylinder (20) is connected to the storage tank (10) andhas a piston rod (21) and a piston (22). The piston rod (21) is mountedthrough the rear cap (16), extends into the inner tube (12) and has adistal end. The piston (22) is connected to the distal end of the pistonrod (21) and is mounted movably in the inner tube (12). When thehydraulic cylinder (20) is actuated, gas can flow in or out through thegas opening (18) of the rear cap (16).

When the feeding device is in use, a liquid material (30) is fed intothe inner tube (12) through the feeding inlet (14) of the front cap(13). The piston rod (21) of the hydraulic cylinder (20) drives thepiston (22) to perform a reciprocating and linear movement and pressagainst the liquid material (30) in the inner tube (21).

Hot water can be introduced into the receiving space through the rearinlet (17) of the rear cap (16) to heat the liquid material (30) in theinner tube (12). Thus, the flow property of the liquid material (30) canbe adjusted and the liquid material (30) can be fed at a suitableworking temperature. Cold water can also be introduced into thereceiving space through the rear inlet (17) of the rear cap (16) to coolthe liquid material (30) in the inner tube (12). Thus, the liquidmaterial (30) can be adjusted to a suitable temperature so as tofacilitate the operation of the hydraulic cylinder (20). Hot and coldwater can be delivered to the recycle device through the front outlet(15) of the front cap (13) and recycled to the supply of hot and coldwater.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, multiple storage tanks (10) can beconnected coaxially in series and driven simultaneously by the hydrauliccylinder (20). The piston rod (21) of the hydraulic cylinder (20)extends through or into the inner tubes (12) of the storage tanks (10)and multiple pistons (22) are connected to the piston rod (21) andmounted respectively in the inner tubes (12) of the storage tanks (10).Thus, the piston rod (21) can drive the pistons (22) to pressing againstthe liquid material (30) in the inner tubes (12).

With reference to FIG. 7, multiple storage tanks (10) are arranged inparallel. Multiple hydraulic cylinders (20) are connected respectivelyto the storage tanks (10) and are connected to a hydraulic supply (40)through multiple pipelines. Thus, the hydraulic cylinders (20) can drivethe storage tanks (10) with the same hydraulic supply (40).

The feeding device has a simplified structure and a low manufacturingcost and is easy to repair and maintain. Additionally, the feedingdevice is quiet because of the stability of the hydraulic cylinder (20).Furthermore, by means of the design of the inner (12) and outer tubes(11), the liquid material (30) in the inner tube (12) can be heated orcooled by introducing hot or cold water into the receiving space. Theviscosity of the liquid material (30) can be adjusted and feeding liquidmaterials in different viscosities by the feeding device is easy andconvenient.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail,especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within theprinciples of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broadgeneral meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1. A feeding device for liquid materials comprising a storage tankcomprising an outer tube having a front end; and a rear end; an innertube being mounted coaxially in and being spaced from the outer tube andhaving a front end; and a rear end; a receiving space being definedbetween the inner and outer tubes; a front cap being mounted on thefront ends of the inner and outer tubes and having a feeding inlet beingdefined in the front cap and communicating with the inner tube; and afront outlet being defined in the front cap and communicating with thereceiving space; and a rear cap being mounted on the rear ends of theinner and outer tubes and having a rear inlet defined in the rear capand communicating with the receiving space; and a hydraulic cylinderbeing connected to the storage tank and having a piston rod beingmounted through the rear cap and extending into the inner tube; and apiston being connected to the piston rod and being mounted movably inthe inner tube.
 2. The feeding device for liquid materials as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the feeding device comprises multiple storage tanksconnected coaxially in series; the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinderextends into the inner tubes of the storage tanks; and multiple pistonsare connected to the piston rod and are mounted respectively in theinner tubes of the storage tanks.
 3. The feeding device for liquidmaterials as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear cap of each storagetank further has a gas opening defined through the rear cap andcommunicating with the inner tube of the storage tank.
 4. The feedingdevice for liquid raw materials as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rearcap further has a gas opening defined through the rear cap andcommunicating with the inner tube.